Highway double fatal sparks call for speed restrictions

Stuart Cumming
Reporter
Stuart studied journalism at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba. He worked briefly at Central Queensland News and Warwick Daily News. He has worked as a reporter at The Chronicle since July 2009.

"The design makes the vehicle hard to control at any speed above 50kmh and gets unsettled over bumps.

"Therefore, allowing them to travel on narrow bumpy country roads is a recipe for disaster."

Crane Industry Council of Australia CEO Alan Marshall said his organisation was generally aware of reports of a small number of road incidents involving articulated mobile cranes in recent years.

"Such incidents are collectively a small percentage of the several thousand such cranes on the roads across Australia, which are being driven responsibly by specially licensed crane operators, consistent with manufacturer guidelines," Mr Marshall said.

The crash that claimed the life of a mother and her young son. It has led to a call for speed restrictions to be put on articulated crane trucks.

"Mobile cranes are registered as special purpose vehicles and are required to comply with all road regulations and Australian Standards."

A spokesman for Minister for Transport Scott Emerson said strict guidelines were in place in relation to the operation of articulated crane trucks.

"Transport and Main Roads is currently assisting Queensland Police Service with their investigation into a crash on the New England Hwy on September 16," the spokesman said.

"We will wait for the outcome of this investigation before making any decisions."

Reader poll

Should speed restrictions be placed on articulated crane trucks?

This poll ended on 21 November 2013.

Current Results

Yes

87%

No

12%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.